不起眼

• 병음: bù qǐ yǎn
• 한자 분석: 不 = not; 起 = to rise/attract; 眼 = 目 (eye) + 艮 (boundary), meaning eye

뜻

눈에 띄지 않다; 수수하다

Often used to describe things that are easily overlooked but may actually be significant. Common in narratives about hidden gems, humble origins, or understated appearances. Can be slightly self-deprecating when used about oneself.

예문

1. 这家不起眼的小店，做的牛肉面却是全城最好吃的。
2. 他看起来不起眼，其实是个隐藏的技术大牛。
3. 那个不起眼的角落里，藏着一家米其林三星餐厅。

사용 가이드

맥락: description, hidden value, appearances

어조: understated

올바른 표현

• 别看它不起眼，其实很值钱。(Don't let its unassuming appearance fool you — it's actually quite valuable.)
• 我只是个不起眼的小员工。(I'm just an unremarkable low-level employee.)

피해야 할 표현

• 这幅画太不起眼了，真丑。(不起眼 is about being overlooked, not about being ugly — use 难看 for that)

기원과 역사

不 (not) + 起眼 (catching the eye). 起眼 means to attract visual attention; the negation describes something that fails to do so.

문화적 배경

세대: All ages

사회적 배경: Universal